Keeping Your Pets Cool in a Heatwave

5:20 pm Tuesday, 20^th July, 2021

It’s that time of year again folks, where leaving the house without sunscreen can result in absolute disaster and the only way to function in the endless waves of sticky heat is consuming your own body-weight in icy drinks and treats, as the unrelenting conditions becomes almost unbearable for most those of us habituated in colder, more forgiving climates.

Although there are countless measures we can take to protect ourselves during these sizzling spikes in temperature, it is important that we take a minute to also talk about our beloved furry friends during more tropical times like this and, ultimately, the potential health risks and hazards that these rising temperatures and conditions pose to our pets.

There is a general misconception with pet care in that, if your pet is not outside, locked in a car or in direct contact with the sizzling sun, then they are protected from the risk of heat exhaustion and overheating whereas, in reality, it is actually just as hazardous to keep them locked inside the blazing furnace that is our homes during such overwhelming conditions as these, so remember; if it’s unbearably hot for you, then it’s just as hot for your pet!

Some of the more obvious signs that your pet is suffering from any such ailments are:

Changes to gum/tongue colour
Repeatedly walking in circles
Excessive drooling
Excessive panting
Shortness of breath
Collapsing
Vomiting

So, as temperatures continue to soar and restrictions continue to ease across the globe, we went out and collated some of the top tips & tricks from leading animal welfare organisations to ensure that your furry friends can enjoy the heat as much as us, without putting them at risk. Each situation is different and every animal is unique though, so although these are some tried and tested pieces of advice for your pets safety, they are by no means conclusive or guaranteed methods for success and you should always act in accordance with your own judgement, with your own pet’s wellbeing in mind:

Sunscreen isn’t just effective for humans! You wouldn’t go for a walk in the beaming sunlight without sunscreen to protect you, right? Although it might seem a strange suggestion, applying pet-safe sunscreen to the more sensitive, exposed areas of your pet - such as noses, ears and paws - can be very effective!
Make sure their water is changed regularly. This one seems more of an obvious, logical solution, but is by no means any less important - in such hot temperatures, your pet’s water will heat up and stagnate and is no longer a cooling, hydrating option - so make sure to change their drinking water at least hourly! You can even apply cold water to your pet’s ears and paws as a way of moderating their temperature.
The right exercise, at the right times. Obviously, it is not safe to provide your pet with their important exercise in the middle of the day, when the temperatures are at their absolute highest, though it is still vital for their safety and wellbeing to ensure that they receive some form of opportunity to do so, when conditions allow. Don’t forget to pay attention to the temperature of the pavement and sidewalk to avoid burning your dog’s paws!
Keep it cool. These days, more and more clever inventions are popping up every day that help keep us and our beloved pets safe and cool in such heat, such as cooling mats and jackets that use a special gel to moderate their temperature. Other than these, you can resort to conventional fans, tiled flooring or even home-made shady dens and beds to help keep them from harm!

There’s no denying that we all deserve to bask in the hot, summer sun after such a miserable and torrid year for all of us, but make sure to do so responsibly and carefully, taking the right measures to care for not only your own skin, health and wellbeing, but those of our beloved, furry friends as well!

Comment down below and let us know some of your own methods and techniques for keeping your furry friends cool and safe in the blistering heat!